On January 23, 2025, President Donald Trump held his first phone call as president with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), signaling a strong focus on U.S.-Saudi relations. Trump hailed MBS as a “wonderful person” despite past controversies, including the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Their discussion centered on stabilizing the Middle East, combating terrorism, and Saudi Arabia’s economic ambitions, with Trump requesting increased investments in the U.S., aiming for $1 trillion. Trump also pushed for lower oil prices and expressed a commitment to facilitating Saudi-Israeli relations through the Abraham Accords.
The White House announced Thursday that President Donald Trump’s first phone call since taking office was with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, sending a clear message about his priorities for the next four years.
US intelligence agencies believe that MBS (as he is known) authorized the killing of a Washington Post reporter in 2018 and that the Biden administration has handled relations with Saudi Arabia with care.
President Trump made it clear that he had no such reservations, describing the crown prince as a “wonderful person.”
The White House said the two discussed efforts to stabilize the Middle East and combat terrorism.
“In addition, the two leaders discussed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s international economic ambitions over the next four years, as well as trade and other opportunities to foster mutual prosperity between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
It was previously reported that Saudi Arabia would invest $600 billion in the US.
In his speech at the World Economic Forum, President Trump said he would call for further reductions in oil prices.
“It has also been reported in today’s newspapers that Saudi Arabia plans to invest at least $600 billion in the United States,” he said.
President Donald Trump speaks via remote link at the World Economic Forum in Davos
President Trump shakes hands with then-Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman during a meeting in Riyadh on May 20, 2017.
“But I am going to ask the Crown Prince, who is a wonderful man, to round it up to about a trillion, and I think they will do that because we have been very good to them.
“And I will also ask Saudi Arabia and OPEC to lower oil prices.”
The crown prince is the de facto ruler of the oil-rich kingdom.
The telephone conversation demonstrated President Trump’s approach to building relationships through his political transactional style.
As the country’s first president, he made Saudi Arabia the destination of his first foreign trip, upending protocol and tradition.
On Monday, hours after being sworn into office, he reflected on the trip.
“Normally, our first foreign trip is to the United Kingdom, but last time we went to Saudi Arabia because they agreed to buy $450 billion worth of our products,” he told reporters in the Oval Office. spoke.
“If Saudi Arabia wants to buy another $450 billion or $500, we’ll increase that to account for inflation. I would probably do that.”
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is the de facto ruler of the oil-rich nation
President Trump forged a close relationship with Saudi Arabia during his first administration, and that relationship continued after he left office.
For example, his golf course hosted a Saudi-backed LIV golf tournament, and the Trump Organization announced a series of projects in Saudi Arabia and the $533 Trump Tower in Jeddah in December.
However, Saudi Arabia is frequently accused of human rights abuses.
Concerns came to a head in 2018 when Saudi agents killed and mutilated U.S.-based Washington Post reporter Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
President Trump has made it clear that he wants Saudi Arabia to sign the Abraham Accords and normalize diplomatic relations with Israel.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also met with the Saudi crown prince.
The two sides discussed “the strength of the U.S.-Saudi partnership at this time of significant change,” the State Department said in a statement.
